Ford reportedly will base Fusion sedan production in China
Mini unveils new, stripped down logo
The premium-fuel secret: You almost never need it
More than a half-million Hyundai, Kia compacts recalled for brake light problem
Tiny carwash used for somehow-serious purpose of testing Nissan paint
Ferrari set to hit new sales goal early to boost profits

Killed

Tony Stewart, three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion, hit and killed fellow driver Kevin Ward Jr. after an on-track altercation sent the 20-year-old Ward into the wall, leaving him out of the race. According to witnesses and video recorded from the stands, Ward exited his car, throwing his hands up in frustration, and walked toward Stewart as he came back around the track under the caution flag. Stewart's car came into contact with Ward, who was sucked under Stewart's car before being thrown seve

The international motor racing community was bereaved this weekend to learn of the untimely passing of Nigel Stepney, a well-known (if controversial) racing mechanic who worked for 30 years in Formula One. The 56-year-old Brit appeared to have pulled his Volkswagen Caddy van over to the side of the road on the M20 at Ashford, UK, when a delivery vehicle struck and killed him on impact.

In a cruel twist of fate this weekend, a memorial event for the late Marco Simoncelli has tragically claimed another life. The Sic Supermoto Day was being held in honor of the late Italian rider, killed in a racing accident two years ago, at the Latina circuit in Italy. That's where former grand prix motorcycle racer Doriano Romboni was killed in a practice session when he fell off his bike was struck by another rider during a crash.

According to a report from InsideLine, General Motors could axe Pontiac as early as this Monday. Although IL isn't citing its source within GM, it did contact the General's PR man, Tom Wilkinson, who said, "There's nothing I can share with you at this time... Officially, nothing has changed with Pontiac's niche-brand status, until you hear differently." Not very clear, but not particularly positive either.

We just got off the phone with one of our sources inside the Source Interlink monolith who informed us that some of Sport Compact Car's staff was laid off yesterday and that the February issue may be the last SCC you'll find on newsstands. The death of SCC follows Source Interlink's execution of Turbo earlier this year, and reports suggest that 115 employees inside the company have been given the boot and more titles could be axed in the future.

A member of the GM Inside News forum posted today that he received an email from General Motors announcing the end of the Monte Carlo. We rang up the General for confirmation and received word that the Monte Carlo is indeed being offed. May 4th will reportedly be the last day you can order a Monte Carlo and production of the car at GM's Oshawa plant in Canada will cease on June 20th. Apparently production of the Monte Carlo is being cancelled to make room for all those extra Malibu orders the au

We're saddened to report the untimely passing of former F1 driver Gianclaudio "Clay" Regazzoni. Clay was killed yesterday when he collided with a truck in the northern Italian city of Parma, where he was reportedly driving at high speed and failed to stop in time as he met an unexpected traffic jam.